11 of the most effective community software solutions for online communities.

Looking for the best online community platform for hosting your brand's community?

The process of selecting the ideal online community software may be daunting, especially when you consider that elements like user-friendliness, service support, platform flexibility , as along with many other factors can be at risk. To ease the anxiety that comes with this major choice, we've looked at the best community-focused software products available.

Find out the full information, which includes the best, the bad and the bad of the most popular solutions in the marketplace. We've provided a wealth of information about what to be looking for when choosing the online community platform to ensure you can take the best decision for your company.

What are these companies?

Community platforms on the web are programs that permit you to construct an electronic space for users to share their knowledge, interact and make connections with other members.

Every platform comes with its own strengths. Understanding your needs can help you in narrowing down the options as we review some of the best communities available on the web and their functionality. Let's dive in!

What should you look for in a platform that is based on community

The Community Software products offer core community functionality with other features that add value and help with specific objectives. To choose, look for a solution that will fit into your business now and into the near future.

Consider the complete system, not only specific features. Consider the whole package and consider how it fits into the goals for the future of your organization.

Here's what to be looking for in a community-oriented software product:

Easy to operate. It's likely that you'll be spending a lot of time building and managing your online community. It is important to have an enjoyable user experience. You must ensure that the platform offers a user-friendly interface which lets you work effectively. Of course, you would want it to be user-friendly and fun for your users to use as well!

Easy to make use of. Users should be able to quickly log in when you're hosting an event or they would like to participate. If there's less hurdles for accessing the website, the more likely members will want to take part.

integrates with other parts of your organization. A majority of communities belong to a larger ecosystem of services that offer online courses as well as coaching and other instructional materials. Everything needs to have the same branded appearance and design and must be simple to move from one area to another.

Includes marketing and sales features. It's impossible to create the community of a person who no one else has an concept of. Ideally, the platform will give you tools to advertise your membership, sell memberships and also increasing sales for other products.

Informative analysis. To provide a excellent experience for your members that entices them and keeps them engaged, it is important to be aware of what's working and what isn't. Analytics tools can provide the necessary information on your customers' behaviour and interests, so that you can concentrate your efforts in best strategies.

11 of the best community software online solution firms

Now, let's review the top online community softwares that are currently in use.

1.

The benefits of this are:

simple. makes it super easy to set up and operate your online community. You can make your community stand-alone or use it as an additional benefit to your coaching or courses.

Multiple tiers. You can create free and paid communities for making a "membership funnel" for your company. The free membership you offer will attract new clients by providing them an opportunity to network with your business and other peers. Use's extensive marketing toolsets to advertise the community that is paid for which members have an exclusive access to content and advantages.

Deep integration with the sales and marketing technologies system. One of the features that distinguishes the HTML0 suite is its extensive range of business-building tools. The users have access to the entire range of tools, that include:

• Builder for websites
• Create an online landing page
• Marketing software for email
• Funnel builder
• Pay processing pages and the order page
• Host of the podcast

With , all your tools have been designed to integrate which means you don't have to deal with problems with creating tech integrations or even diagnosing problems. Just sign in, and you're set to roll.

It is a complete solution that can also save you cash. By investing in one-off items or creating your own technological stack, you could easily put aside hundreds of dollars per month. Paying just one price every month that covers everything you need to run a successful online business.

The Basic plan costs $119 a month and comprises 3 services digital (a community and two others) and more than 10,000 contacts. If you are unable to use the basic plan, it is possible to upgrade to the growth plan, which costs one-time cost of $159. This gives you 15 items that can be used up to 25,000 contact.

Try for 14 days for free.

Everything your business online requires. All in one place. Yes! Let's go!

2. Facebook groups

If you're an avid Facebook fan, most likely you've an account in at the very least, one Facebook group. Facebook lets its users create private groups that let you communicate with your followers either to discuss personal or business issues.

Facebook's group memberships are for free but there are costs hidden regarding the trust of users and their image. The trust of the business has dropped 66% in recent years.

In this case, for instance, following the creation of the Facebook group that would host the community, Kathryn Aragon discovered that many of her members weren't active on Facebook. To increase engagement in her community moved the group to a different site.

The most significant benefits to Facebook as a community platform arethe following:

Private. The content within the group may only be viewed by other members.

discussion. Posts and comments permit members to debate topics in real-time. Any group updates can be directly sent to members. This makes it easier to communicate.

Member management. Administrators of groups are able to manage the members of groups as well as the rights.

Some of the negatives are absence of ownership (that's a biggie) and no member directory or website management. They aren't Facebook'scustomers. They're Facebook's customers. Don't forget about the massive Facebook outage which occurred during the month of October 2021 that led small companies around the globe to immediately shut off access to their community and customers.

A third major issue that is aired by users of the community is the lack of support that is direct, as there are only support forums offered to help solve problems.

3. Discord

After gaining popularity within the gaming world, Discord has grown into a well-known social network for all kinds of users. The goal is to provide places where users can meet to share common interest.

As an online community software solution firm, Discord offers real-time video and audio conversations. Additionally, it offers custom roles to distinguish users from administrators. Due to its gaming and techno-related roots, its style is dark and may or may not match your brand's aesthetic. Discord doesn't offer many options for branding the member areas of your members.

It includes the following functions:

AI-Powered Bots. Bots can be designed to greet new members and enhance the user experience. Members will know of the fact that it's a robot that interacts with them. However, you can create a fun experience for them to engage with the bot, while providing useful information.

Reliable, secure private channels. Discord isn't tied to time which makes it appear like you're in the same world. It's a popular choice to secure your data and the channels are all private. This allows users to feel comfortable during their conversation.

Moderator Academy. This is a complete resource to novice and experienced moderators who want to improve their knowledge of community management.

However, creating your Discord community could be a bit complicated. There is a long learning curve which could result in you not achieve the most out of the service. Your Discord server you're using Discord server is also with all the other communities in which users participate in. That means you'll be competing for their attention.

Discord is for free. Just install the application and install it. You can also upgrade to Discord Nitro ($99.99 annually) in order to gain access to more emojis and larger uploads, higher-quality video, and a few other enhancements.

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks offers an online learning platform that features a built-in community feature. The platform is robust and allows users to personalize the branding and features that encourage community engagement.

Key Mighty Networks features include: Key Mighty Networks features include:
   

Mobile access. This community site online offers an app available to mobile devices, which lets users to interact with members even when at the move. Actually, it's easier to interact via your smartphone as opposed to using the web.

Email alerts. Members will be notified by email every time there's a new activity on the community. It also serves as a short reminder to sign in and see what they might have missed.

Branding. Mighty Network allows you to create a branding area that shares the same style and appearance to your site. Use your branding colors on tabs as well as buttons, actions and iconography for text.

It is important to remember the importance of the Might Networks is a community-focused platform. If you are planning to develop other types of products for your company it is possible to invest in other apps and software to host them.

5. Hivebrite

Hivebrite Hivebrite HTML0 is a comprehensive community management platform designed to serve educational institutions and nonprofits. It supports over 500 organizations including Vanderbilt University, WWF, and Sabin Vaccine Institute.

Hivebrite doesn't provide prices on their site. If you want to test Hivebrite's pricing, you'll have join to get a free trial, which is a clear indication that they offer only price plans for corporations.

That said, they do have attractive features. Your community will be branding. Additionally, it allows you to handle your community's contents, as well as marketing tools from one location.

Some of Hivebrite's standout features:

Live stream. It's possible to livestream community members to create real-time gatherings.

Rights of access. With Hivebrite, it is possible to grant access rights to various categories of users like students and alumni. Additionally, you can make membership tiers with access rights that are more favorable for members who pay.

Modular capabilities. As your community evolves, you can change the features you want to use. You can choose from forums, events networks, group messages central, media centre and a job board or directory.

The main issue is integration with your database and other tech. Most likely you'll have to employ an IT specialist to configure an API to link it to other software.

6. Tribe.so

Tribe is a programming-friendly community platform that has an app ecosystem that permits direct integrations with third party organizations, as well as methods to incorporate the community in other applications as well as websites. The most common use cases include customer education and customer satisfaction, as well as the customer service, relationship with brands, managing brands and customers' feedback about product features.

With Tribe The core features provide the necessary elements of community. Apps extend your capabilities. Examples:

• Slack provides admins and moderators with alerts of different activities.
• Zapier allows you to link your team with the various technology tools in your stack.
• Google Analytics helps you measure the activity of your community.

Tribe comes with the following features:

Social sharing. Tribe includes Open Graph tags that facilitate social sharing. It's easy to share your content to outside of the community, and to get attention from members who are not yet members.

Integration. Third-party integrations with over 30 different apps let users connect with their communities by using the same tools you're employing.

Modification Panel. Tribe gives you the option to let users edit or reject the posts of users. Additionally, it lets you save older posts to clear your feed of clutter.

Tribe is free for as many as 100 members. The Plus Plan costs $59 per month, lets you use Plus apps and more than 250 members. If you want to get the most out of this app, it is recommended to move to the Premium Plan with a monthly cost of $299. This will allow you to remove the Tribe branding, use its API and webhooks in addition to extending the number of members to 25,000.

7. Circle.so

Circle permits you to create communities around your classes as well as coaching or support to customers. Its aim is to speed up the process of building a community, allowing users to use tools for creating content as well as private spaces, to facilitate discussions, and increase the value of your members' membership. The platform offers a variety of options , and lets you create an online space that is suitable for your website.

Some of the most well-known services provided by Circle include:

Simple integrations. Circle is compatible with different third-party software, like email marketing software, Slack, Wordpress, and , so you can market your group or combine it with other tools.

Secret and private spaces. You can create distinct categories for each category inside your membership. In this case, for example, you might be able to create one space that is reserved only for core members and an additional one for premium members.

Searchable member directory. You can help members network to one another by creating profiles that are customized and search filters.

Circle is priced at $35 per month, plus a 4% transaction fee per user. Basic plans include everything you need to run the community you've built, which includes conversations and private messages. Upgrade to the Premium Plan ($89 per month as well as 1% transaction fees per user) to access classes and live streaming, along with advanced analytics.

There may be a need to cover additional costs for things including additional administrator spaces additional spaces, white-labeling of email as well as a customized single-sign-on (SSO).

8. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is been designed to allow enterprises of all sizes to deliver exceptional customer experience. It's frequently utilized to provide the support of customers, customer experience along with product marketing, as well as branding awareness.

Vanilla provides a good user experience, a seamless integration with your existing tech stack along with flexible modifications for your specific brand.

Principal features of Vanilla Forums include:

Knowledge Base. You can create Self-Service Help Centers within your community which contain your user manuals and other help materials.

Surveys can be made to fit your needs. With Vanilla Forums it's possible to distribute personalized surveys to your target audience with direct comments.

Open source community. You can access Vanilla's Open Source code at no charge and also manage an individual community. Are you tech-savvy? There is a way to contribute to the program's source software.

The platform may not be suitable for creatives who are independent and entrepreneurs by themselves, as pricing is not listed on the website. However, if you're interested you may set up the appointment of an agent to discuss sales.

9. WildApricot

WildApricot is described as an integrated system which was originally created specifically for associations and non-profit organizations. Today, its users include clubs, associations, as well as state and local chapter associations.

Wild Apricot has a self-serve layout that allows you to customize the entire community. The reputation system and the gamification helps you promote good content. Members can access facilities and can even manage moderation.

It is a must-have item:

Event managing. Plan events such as auctions online as well as virtual conferences and webinars--and get sponsors to support your event. You can also create a calendar that is public and create event registrations.

Donations. With WildApricot, you're able to accept donations as well as discuss progress in achieving your goals for donations. It is also possible to export your donations records to ensure that you can monitor and track the donations.

CRM. Like , WildApricot provides CRM (customer relationship management) tool with the most comprehensive member directory, which can be used anywhere.

Third-party tools are required for marketing and running your firm. They will most likely integrate with WildApricot including WordPress, Mailchimp, and Zapier. Payment processing will be available only to U.S. and Canada residents.

WildApricot can be tested at no cost as long as you've reached 50 people. The cost will increase with the growth of your community:

• A month of $48 for 100 contacts.
• Rent of $60 per month for 250 contacts
• A month's rent of $110 for 500 contacts
• One month for $190 per 2000 contacts

10. Disciple Media

Disciple Media is a platform designed for social interaction. It consists of three elements consisting of a console to manage your content on mobile or desktops. There is also an app for mobile which lets users interact with each other online, and the community on the web that gives users the opportunity to interact on their desktops.

It is intended to be used by entrepreneurs, founders, and prominent celebrities who want to create their own social media brand platform.

Disciple Media includes the following characteristics:

different designs. You can store and distribute content from a central place. Utilize groups, folders, and lists to create the perfect structure for users.

Mobile app. Disciple Media is an online social networking platform because the user experience on mobile devices is designed for its users. It also has a web-based app that is not as powerful, however it does have limited capabilities compared to the mobile app.

In-app purchases. Disciple lets you make in-app purchases and also sponsorships which means you are able to make the users your clients.

Cost of Disciple is contingent on the size of your group as well as your preference of mobile or web or both.

• Exclusively on the web Monthly cost of $46 for 100 members
• Only mobile: $458 a month for 500 customers
• Mobile and web Mobile: $504 per 500 members

These add-ons include API white labeling, API additional administrative users. In addition, you'll be able for members' support, community coaching and mastermind capabilities.

11. Vibely.io

Vibely.io was created by two former Asana employee, Teri Yu, and Theresa Lee who wanted at dispersing the creator community with a positive approach. Their slogan "Built with women in mind, not by gamer guys," gives you an idea of the vibe that they're planning to spread.

Vibely.io is an online community platform that lets creators interact with other users, and collect the material that users make.

Vibely.io's most popular features include:

A commitment to positivity. Vibely is committed to not allowing Trolls, spam or any kind of violence. It is our goal to provide an environment where everyone feels welcomed.

Accountability tools and challenges. It includes leadersboards, challenges and trackers to keep everyone on track and engaged.

Ambassadors. Vibely lets you appoint people in your group to aid you in welcoming and managing your members.

You can create your own Vibely community for free without a limit to the number of participants, ambassadors and super administrators. However, on the free plan, you can't accept the monthly payments. The Mastermind plans allow for payment that take 10% of revenue.

The top online community software solution firm

There are a variety of factors to take into consideration in choosing the perfect community-building website. There are tools needed to create markets, sell and build your group and the platform must be user-friendly to both your community members.
   
    Based on our review There are a lot of good options - but one is the best for its complete business solution.

Only allows you to develop and market a vibrant community, along with other digital goods like online courses and coaching. And, only gives you the necessary resources for marketing and selling these items, so you can expand and grow successful knowledge-based businesses.

If you're looking to start a forum, it's possible to choose any of the forums we've examined. Based on how big your community, that alternative could be cost-effective (or maybe even for free).

However, free software can be subject to the outside regulations and algorithmic rules, and also limit your growth possibilities. There aren't the capabilities you'll need and often restrict the amount of users you can be able to accept.

The community you create is yours. Your rules, conditions and the cost for membership. You decide whether or not to pay.

If you're planning to start an online community This is the complete answer. Through tutorials, videos and videos that help you get started fast. Through the University you can access instruction on the fundamentals of running as well as an online community. It is available for all who want to use it.

Get started on your cost-free 14-day trial today!

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